If you are someone who has been interested in movies like 1973’s The Exorcist, then this segment from A Current Affair might pique your interest. The news outlet shares the story of a priest in the United States who has been Vatican-trained to perform real-life exorcisms. And yes, you read that statement correctly.
Father Vincent Lampert is one of 12 official Vatican-appointed exorcists in the United States. This isn’t something that he ever really saw for himself, but he lived at the Vatican in Rome for three months to learn the practice and sat in on 40 exorcisms.
“When I saw a person levitate during an exorcism during my training in Rome … I think I was sitting there with my jaw wide open,” Father Lampert recalls of his shocked feelings upon beginning his exorcism practice.
Some of the stories he has to tell would make even the most skeptical cynic think twice about demonic possession. He recalls one instance when he used insufflation, a breathing prayer, during an exorcism and the chair in which the woman was sitting suddenly flew back and hit the side of the altar.
News of Father Lampert’s exorcism abilities has traveled far, as he receives about 1,800 calls and emails a year from people in various parts of the world who believe they are possessed. He mentions that about half of those calls come from individuals who aren’t even of the Catholic faith.
For those who are in need of Father Lampert’s expertise, there’s quite a process involved that the Catholic Church has put in place, which involves a psychiatric evaluation in order to ensure those who are in need of an exorcism get one.
To hear more about the process, as well as some of Father Lampert’s most haunting exorcism cases, watch the video.
